WWE NXT Spotlight: 10/17/18 By Kurt Zamora

Welcome one and all to the latest installment of the NXT Spotlight here at TJRWrestling. We are inching ever closer to the next Takeover event in Los Angeles, War Games II, and although no matches have been announced yet, we have had great television to pass the time. Tonight will be no different as we have a double main event lined up. With so much time between Takeovers, big matches like this become the norm. Let’s see what’s in store tonight.

NXT Tag Title MatchWar Raiders vs. Undisputed Era (c)

Well we’re starting with the title match, which is a bit surprising, but also probably leads you to knowing what’s going to happen. If Kyle O’Reilly playing guitar with his title isn’t your favorite thing in wrestling, then we might have issues moving forward. Mixed reactions for both teams, but in the sense that Undisputed Era is clearly over with a lot of the Full Sail crowd, so it’s to be expected. Ray Rowe and Roddy Strong start this out. Roddy with the first advantage and is able to tag in O’Reilly. They try to double team Rowe but Rowe comes out of the corner with a double clothesline. Rowe drags O’Reilly to his corner and Hanson gets the tag. Hanson works over O’Reilly until Strong distracts him and then O’Reilly is able to kick the thigh of Hanson in order to get some space and make a tag. They try to double team Hanson but Hanson with a double shoulder tackle that sends both men to the floor. Rowe is now legal with Roddy. Rowe drops Roddy with a shoulder tackle but O’Reilly made a blind tag. He tries to grab at Rowe’s leg but Rowe just powers him up int a gutwrench suplex. He picks up O’Reilly again and back body drops Roddy at the same time. Hanson tags in and Rowe bodyslams him on top of O’Reilly. They get Roddy and lawn dart him into his partner. Rowe chases both of the champs on the outside and drops them both with forearms. As he gets O’Reilly back in the ring, Strong with a cheap shot to the knee and now the champs have the advantage.

Roddy comes in with a backbreaker as Rowe is focused on O’Reilly. O’Reilly with some great kicks and a leg sweep on Rowe for a two count. Roddy tags back in and they wishbone Rowe. Seated dropkick gets a short two count. Dragonscrew leg whip by O’Reilly after some double teaming in the corner. The champs continually work over the left leg of Rowe. Rowe finally hits a Freak Accident type slam on O’Reilly, which allows Hanson to come in. Hanson is cleaning house with a big splash on Roddy. and then a standing Bonzai drop on O’Reilly out of the corner. That was pretty cool. He then cartwheels to avoid Roddy and comes back with a lariat that turns him inside out. Bronco buster on Roddy and that gets a two count. Rowe is tagged back in as all four men are in the ring. Double knee to O’Reilly and then Hanson does a DVD on Roddy, where Roddy lands on the knee of Rowe. Good offense from the Raiders. Rower immediately goes for a sitout powerbomb on Roddy but O’Reilly breaks it up. Rowe knocks O’Reilly out of the ring and Hanson tags back in. The Raiders do a really cool elevated German Suplex, springboard off the second rope clothesline double team move. With that, Adam Cole shows up, but Hanson stops him in his tracks before he can do anything. No DQ by the ref and the match continues. O’Reilly hits a cheap shot on Rowe when the ref isn’t looking, Roddy comes from behind with an Angle Slam, but Rowe manages to kick out.

The champs try to hit the Total Elimination, but Rowe takes out Roddy. He headbutts O’Reilly, but O’Reilly comes back with a knee bar submission. Roddy tries to stop Hanson from breaking up the submission, but Hanson catches him in midair and slams him down on O’Reilly. The Raiders end up hitting the double team pop-up powerslam on O’Reilly and then Hanson dives through the ropes to take out Roddy and Cole. The Raiders nail their finisher, Rowe poses on top of Hanson for the pin…. Bobby Fish shows up and saves the champions! Fish lays waste to both challengers with a steel chair as the bell rings.

Winners: War Raiders by DQ

Fish looks to be cleared for competition now. Rowe tries to crawl to Fish, but Fish picks him up and it leads to the champs hitting Total Elimination. All 4 members of the Era pose in the ring as they’re happy with their result.

K-Tank’s Take: I’m sure a lot of you are getting a little tired of all the unclean finishes we’ve gotten as of late on NXT. It does take away from how good some of these matches are, but at least everything makes sense, in the sense that we all know this is leading to War Games. With Fish back, it looks like we might get a traditional 4 on 4 War Games instead of a 3 on 3 on 3 like last year. This match was nowhere near on par to what Undisputed Era had been doing against Lorcan/Burch and Moustache Mountain, but I don’t think it needed to be. These two teams will have another battle for the title sooner rather than later.

Nikki Cross is freaking out backstage saying she knows.

Britt Baker vs. Shayna Baszler

Britt Baker is currently dating Adam Cole, and most of you might know her from the awesome Four Way women’s match that took place at All In. They don’t show her full entrance, so no idea what kind of reaction she got, and I would assume that was done on purpose. Shayna with a fireman’s carry takeover and then immediately works on the left arm of Baker and twisting it in every way possible. Shayna does her stomp on the exposed elbow and the ref has called for the bell after checking with Baker.

Winner: Shayna Baszler

After the match, the trainers go to take Baker out and Baszler decides to hit a step up knee strike to knock Baker out.

K-Tank’s Take: That seems like a waste for Baker. Considering the amount of attention she would’ve received for All In, it just doesn’t make much sense. Literally, any woman could’ve done that. I’m not one for WWE conspiracies or anything like that, but I can’t help but connect the dots a little bit here and wonder if this is WWE trying to put their thumb down on something. Thoughts? Am I over thinking this? Sound off in the comments!

We go to William Regal’s office and he’s asked about what Nikki Cross may or may not know. Regal says he will be talking to her after her match tonight, because Aleister Black is back soon and he needs answers.

Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch vs. Tian Bing & Rocky

Bing and Rocky are two of the Chinese recruits WWE has developed at the Performance Center. Bing and Oney start the match. Oney and Burch with new gear, Oney in all blue with the USA flag and Burch in all red with the Great Britain flag. They tie up and get a clean break, but Bing comes with a stomp in the gut and a Mongolian chop to get the advantage. Shoulder tackle by Bing and then he is able to tag in Rocky. Rocky with a full nelson on Lorcan. Lorcan escapes and hits a big clothesline. Burch tags in and nails a step up enziguri in the corner and then a front dropkick from the second rope. Bing comes in but Burch gets rid of him. Lorcan tags in and they go for their double team high angle DDT on Rocky, which gets the win.

Winners: Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch

K-Tank’s Take: Always great to see Burch and Lorcan. I love their finisher. I don’t know when they’ll get back involved in the tag title picture, but I hope it’s in the cards for them.

It’s announced that next week, William Regal will make a major NXT Championship announcement as it pertains to Takeover: War Games.

Bianca Belair vs. Nikki Cross

The crowd is legitimately on their feet and going nuts for Nikki. It’s amazing how popular she is. Bianca waits for Nikki to do something and Nikki explodes from the corner and takes down Bianca. They start brawling to the floor and around ringside. Bianca tries to send Nikki into the steel steps but Nikki reverses it. Nikki gets her in the ring and goes for a pin but only a 1 count. Monkey flip in the middle of the ring by Nikki. They go to the corner and Bianca starts to fight back. Nice fallaway slam by Bianca. Bianca with a neck vise of sorts as she tries to wear out Nikki. Nikki fights out and then comes off the ropes with a headscissors. Bianca comes right back with a dropkick though. Bianca with an impressive handstand flip, using Nikki’s body as a base, and then coming right back with a standing moonsault on Nikki’s back. Bianca lifts Nikki up in a double chicken wing, perhaps setting up for a Glam Slam, but Nikki rolls out and rolls up Bianca for a two count. Bianca comes right back though and then goes to the top rope. Nikki cuts her off and puts her in the tree of woe. Nikki just stomps away. Big splash in the corner by Nikki, followed by a running bulldog. Nikki goes to the top rope and hits a cross body, but Bianca is able to kick out. Bianca wants to get away from Nikki, but Nikki is dragging her back to the middle of the ring. Bianca kicks her off and connects with a loud forearm to the jaw.

Both women down, but Bianca springs up with a spear. She goes for a pin but Nikki kicks out. Bianca doubles over Nikki, but still a kick out. Bianca then proceeeds to do a deadlift sitout powerbomb! Nikki may be a small woman, but that was still impressive! Nikki once again kicks out though and Bianca can’t believe it. Great facials by Bianca in this match. Bianca composes herself, and proceeds to pieface Nikki, telling her to stay down. Bianca once again shows off her strength by gorilla pressing Nikki high over her head. She shows off by doing some squats with Nikki above her, and Nikki slides out and hits a reverse falling DDT on Bianca for a two count. Nikki goes back to the top rope and as she jumps off, Bianca with the huge hair whip right in the midsection of Nikki. Bianca now goes to the top herself, but Nikki cuts her off. They’re battling on the second rope and Nikki manages to superplex her back into the ring. I just now noticed that Bianca’s glitter is literally everywhere in the ring. I don’t know how I missed that.

As I type that, the lights go out and Aleister Black’s music hits. The music stops and the lights come back on and Aleister has replaced Bianca in the ring, sitting with his legs crossed like he does. Nikki sees him and starts rolling around in laughter. Aleister motions her to stop and then summons her to come to him. Aleister tells her to tell him as she slowly crawls. Nikki gets close in Aleister’s ear so no one can hear. Whatever she tells him has Aleister shaking in rage and anger as Nikki slides out of the ring. That ends our show.

Winner: No Contest?

K-Tank’s Take: Well there’s obviously a lot to digest here. First, for the actual match. These women really have great chemistry against each other. I think the non-finish here will lead to some sort of gimmick match at Takeover. With Baszler and Kairi facing off for the title at Takeover, there likely won’t be a title match at Takeover. So that leaves an opportunity for these two to face off again. Bianca needs to let up on the glitter, but other than that, she is so good in the ring and only getting better.

Now for the Aleister situation. Did Nikki actually tell him? Is he angry because he knows now, or because Nikki was playing her games with even him? I can’t imagine it’ll take long to find out. Perhaps with Regal’s big NXT Title announcement next week, that’s where we’ll find out for good. This storyline has been really well done and the suspense has led to a lot of great television, and even a nice elevation of Nikki Cross. I hope it’s a good reveal and not another, “I did it for The Rock.”

That’s it for this week! Until next time, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do… but if you do, name it after me!

I am your host for both "The Match Beyond" Podcast and the NXT Spotlight here at TJRWrestling. Check them both out every week on Mondays and Wednesdays. If I'm not watching professional wrestling, I'm discussing the latest news for the Carolina Panthers. Email me at KTankRKO@Gmail.com or I'm always available on Twitter, @KTankTMB. It'll always still be real to me dammit. I Still Woo Woo Woo.

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